Multipurpose Grip and Method of Making Same

ABSTRACT

A grip suitable for use with exercise equipment including a foot cradle, a handle and a connection element, wherein the ends of the foot cradle and the ends of the connection element are secured together and disposed within the handle.

Grip: a device by which a person physically interacts with a mechanism such as an exercise apparatus.

Handle: a component of a grip, generally tubular, sized and shaped for grasping by a person's hand.

Foot Cradle: a component of a grip, generally webbing, sized and shaped to support a person's foot or lower leg.

Strap: a length of material substantially longer than its width, having length edges and width edges, and made, for example, from webbing, rope, wire, chain, etc.

Strap end (end of strap): a portion of a strap that extends from its end edge.

Connection element: a component of a grip by which the grip connects to another mechanism or device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION/BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to grips, such as grips for use with or as part of exercise apparatus and, in particular, grips that include both a handle and a foot cradle, and methods of constructing same.

Grips having a handle and a foot cradle are well known in the art and commonly include a rigid tubular handle and at least two straps, commonly webbing, the latter as a foot cradle and the former as a connection element. In some prior art grips, the ends of straps that form the foot cradle and connection element are typically joined to form a closed loop, with the joined ends hidden from view by being located inside the handle. This configuration is not only time-consuming to manufacture, but where the straps are of bulky webbing (which is common), the inside diameter of the handle must be large enough to accommodate all the strap materials (the connection element strap and the joined ends of the foot cradle strap) that must fit inside. This either requires a handle with a thinner wall (which is less sturdy), or a handle having a larger outer diameter, which is not ergonomically optimal for all users. The method steps of connecting straps described herein remove excess air and compress all the fibers of the connected components down to a much smaller diameter than those systems previously known, which allows connected straps to be installed in much smaller diameter tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides various embodiments of a grip (and methods for making same) with a foot cradle and a connection element that are integrated with and supported by a handle with no requirements that the handle have dimensions other than those that are determined optimal based on ergonomics.

One of the benefits of the configurations and processes described below is the ability to offer different diameter grips of different wall thickness for the same strap materials while keeping the outside appearance the same. Furthermore, the connected ends of the foot cradle strap are disposed and reside out of sight entirely within the tubular grip handle. The process described below also greatly facilitates the manufacturing of the grip by eliminating the need to feed strap material through a handle or force connected material ends through the handle. In addition, it is possible, with the embodiment described below, to provide space within the handle for placement of other components, such as biometric devices or the like.

In one configuration, a multipurpose grip comprises a rigid tubular handle, a connection element, and a cradle strap; wherein a portion of the cradle strap and a portion of the connection element are secured together forming a joined end; and wherein the joined end is disposed within said handle. In another embodiment, the multipurpose grip of has a second portion of the cradle strap and a second portion of the connection element secured together, forming a second joined end which is also disposed within the handle.

In another embodiment, the cradle strap and the connection element are the same strap; wherein a different embodiment the cradle strap is a different strap than the connection element.

In one embodiment, a first crimping sleeve surrounds the first joined end and a second crimpling sleeve surrounds the second joined end.

In an embodiment, the tubular handle has an inside diameter and each of the first and second crimping sleeves, before being disposed in the handle, has a flared portion greater in diameter than the inside diameter of said tubular handle.

In yet another embodiment, each of the first and second crimping sleeves has a knurled portion greater in diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular handle.

In still another embodiment, the first end portion of a strap and said second end portion of a strap are end portions of a single strap, while in a different embodiment, the first end portion of a strap and the second end portion of a strap are end portions of two different straps. In one embodiment, the single strap is a length of rope, and in a similar embodiment, the rope is sufficient in length to form a Lark's knot.

The description below includes the embodiments pointed out above as well as others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-quarters perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown prior to the parts being fully assembled;

FIG. 2 illustrates the handle of FIG. 1 in partial cross-section after the parts have been fully assembled, revealing parts within the handle;

FIG. 3 illustrates a grip connected to another part by a Lark's knot;

FIG. 4 illustrates the connection element of the grip comprised of two separate connection straps;

FIG. 5 illustrates the connection element of the grip comprised of a single webbing strap;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment having a single strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Where like elements appear in different Figures, they are given the same reference designation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a grip 11 includes a tubular handle 12, a foot cradle 13 and a connection element 14. In one embodiment, handle 12 is a rigid cylinder having an inner diameter 16 and an outer diameter 17 and an outer surface 18 and generally sized so that a person (not shown) can comfortably grasp the handle in the normal manner of placing the palm of the hand onto the outer surface 18 and wrapping the fingers of the hand around the handle 12. It is common for a handle to have a cover material (not shown), in which case, the outer surface 18 would be such cover material. It is within the scope of the invention for the tubular handle 12 to have a cross-section other than circular, such as oval or square or some other polygon, and still have the benefits described herein.

The handle 12 can be made from plastic, metal, wood or any other material that is rigid, durable and strong enough to retain its structural integrity under loads greater than 200 pounds.

In one embodiment, the foot cradle 13 is a strap 15 having a first end portion 21 a and a second end portion 21 b and preferably, but not necessarily, formed of a webbing material that can comfortably support a foot at its heel or instep (not shown) and connection element 14 is a strap 19 having a first end 23 and a second end 24.

Connection element 14 can be a single strap 19 (FIGS. 1) or multiple straps 20 a and 20 b (FIGS. 4 and 5).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the grip 11 is assembled by placing the first end 23 of connection strap 19 and end 21 a of cradle strap 15 into a first crimping sleeve 26 and, in a manner well known in the art, reducing the diameter of at least a portion of the crimping sleeve 26 to exert pressure on the two strap ends 23 and 21 a that compresses them and firmly secures them together within the sleeve 26, creating a first joined end 25 a. In the same way, the end 24 of connection strap 19 and end 21 b of foot cradle strap 15 are placed into a second crimping sleeve 27 and, in a manner well known in the art, reducing the diameter of at least a portion of the crimping sleeve 27 to exert pressure on the two strap ends 24 and 21 b that compresses them and firmly secures them together within the sleeve 27, creating a second joined end 25 b. After crimping the sleeves 26 and 27, the ends of straps 15 and 19 are securely joined and encased in generally cylindrically-shaped sleeves 26 and 27, each with an outside diameter that is equal to or slightly greater than the inside diameter 16 of handle 12, creating an interference fit requiring force to insert the crimped sleeves and their joined ends 25 a and 25 b into the ends 28 and 29 of the handle 12 (FIG. 2). The sleeve encased ends of straps 15 and 19 (joined ends 25 a and 25 b) are forced into and thus secured within handle 12. In one embodiment, a space 34 is left between sleeve encased ends 25 a and 25 b suitable for storing other devices, such as, for example, biometric sensors or the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment, connection element 14 and foot cradle 13 are formed from a single strap 33, the ends 35 and 37 of which are secured together in a crimping sleeve 27, while a loop 36 in strap 33 is secured in a crimping sleeve 26 as described above. The strap 33 can be webbing, a rope or other strap material suitable for the intended use of the grip 11. As in other embodiments, the sleeves 26 and 27 are disposed in a handle 12 (See FIGS. 1 and 2).

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the process of crimping sleeves 26 and 27 includes applying crimping pressure to only a portion 26 a and 27 a of the crimping sleeves 26 and 27 and little or no pressure to the sleeve end portions 26 b and 27 b, thereby forming a flared end 31 to sleeve 26 and a flared end 32 to sleeve 27. These flared ends 31 and 32, have, before being forced into handle 12, a greater diameter than the inside diameter 16 of handle 12. When forced into handle 12, edges 31 a and 32 a of flared ends 31 and 32, respectively, act as barbs that bite into the inner surface of the handle 12, resisting a force that would pull the sleeves 26 or 27 out of the handle 12 (See FIG. 2). Edges 31 a and 32 a thus restrain the crimped sleeves 26 and 27 and the strap ends that they encase (joined ends 25 a and 25 b) from being pulled from the handle 12.

Referring to FIG. 6, in another embodiment, rather than a flared end portion 26 b (FIG. 2), the end portion 26 c of the sleeve 26 is knurled to create a strong friction connection with the interior of handle 12 that resists forces the would pull the sleeve 26 out of the handle 12. The strength of this connection is enhanced by the diameter of the knurled portions 26 c being sized to have an interference fit with the handle 12 and even more so in the case where the handle is plastic and the knurled portion 26 c is heated before being inserted (hot staked) into the handle 12. The knurled embodiment shown and described in connection with sleeve 26 is, in most cases, but not necessarily, applied as well to the sleeve 27 (FIG. 2). In another embodiment the joined ends 25 a and 25 b can be glued inside the handle 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, when assembled as described above (joined ends 25 a and 25 b inserted into handle 12, the grip 11 includes a foot cradle 13 secured to a connection element 14, with both supported by handle 12, with the connections between the foot cradle 13 and connection element 14 out of sight in handle 12 (see FIG. 2).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the connection element 14 is a strap of a single piece of rope 36. Where rope 36 is of sufficient length, it is possible to form a Larks knot 38 by which grip 11 can be secured to other hardware such as a ring 39 (which, itself, would typically be attached to another device) without any additional parts to the grip 11. The non-integral Lark's knot connection 38, which can be readily secured and unsecured, makes it easy to swap grips used with exercise apparatus, for example, or replace one type of grip with another type of grip.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, a connection element 14 comprises two separate straps 20 a and 20 b, each having connection hardware 41 and 42, respectively, at their ends 20 c and 20 d. The connection of the ends 23 and 24 of separate straps 20 a and 20 b with the ends 21 a and 21 b of the foot cradle strap 15 is exactly as described above in connection with the embodiment where the connection element 14 is a single strap 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Referring to FIG. 6, the connection strap 19 is folded into one or more loops 19 a and 19 b before being inserted into sleeve 26 such that portions of the loops 19 a and 19 b extend beyond the end 28 of handle 12 when the sleeve 26 is disposed in the handle. Loops 19 a and 19 b (which can be one or more) are useful as finger grips and also serve to provide a connection device for other components such as weights or other exercise elements (not shown).

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims. 

1. A multipurpose grip comprising: a rigid tubular handle; a connection element; and a cradle strap; wherein a portion of said cradle strap and a portion of said connection element are secured together forming a joined end; and wherein said joined end is disposed within said handle.
 2. The multipurpose grip of claim 1 wherein a second portion of said cradle strap and a second portion of said connection element are secured together forming a second joined end; and wherein said second joined end is disposed within said handle.
 3. The multipurpose grip of claim 2 wherein said cradle strap and said connection element are the same strap.
 4. The multipurpose grip of claim 2 wherein said cradle strap is a different strap than said connection element.
 5. A multipurpose grip comprising: a rigid tubular handle having ends; a connection element having a first end portion of a strap and a second end portion of a strap; a cradle strap having a first end portion and a second end portion; wherein said first end portion of a strap and said first end portion of said cradle strap are secured together forming a first joined end; wherein said second end portion of a strap and the second end portion of said cradle strap are joined together forming a second joined end; and wherein said first joined end and said second joined end are disposed within said rigid tubular handle.
 6. The multipurpose grip of claim 5 further comprising: a first crimping sleeve surrounding and compressing said first joined end; and a second crimping sleeve surrounding and compressing said second joined end.
 7. The multipurpose grip of claim 6 wherein said tubular handle has an inside diameter and wherein each of said first and second crimping sleeves, before being disposed in said handle, has a flared portion greater in diameter than the inside diameter of said tubular handle.
 8. The multipurpose grip of claim 6 wherein said tubular handle has an inside diameter and wherein each of said first and second crimping sleeves has a knurled portion greater in diameter than the inside diameter of said tubular handle.
 9. The exercise grip of claim 5 wherein said first end portion of a strap and said second end portion of a strap are end portions of the same strap.
 10. The exercise grip of claim 5 wherein said first end portion of a strap and said second end portion of a strap are end portions of two different straps.
 11. The exercise grip of claim 9 wherein said single strap is a length of rope.
 12. The exercise grip of claim 11 wherein said length of rope is sufficient in length to form a Lark's knot.
 13. The exercise grip of claim 9 wherein said same strap is a length of webbing.
 14. The exercise grip of claim 5 wherein said connection element is comprised of two separate straps.
 15. The exercise grip of claim 11 further comprising: one or more loops of rope extending from an end of said rigid tubular handle.
 16. A method of constructing a grip having a rigid, tubular handle having an inside diameter and an outside diameter, a connection element having ends, and a foot cradle strap having ends the steps comprising: joining the ends of the connection element to the ends of the foot cradle strap to form two joined ends and; securing the joined ends within the handle.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the connection element is a length of rope long enough to form a Lark's knot.
 18. The method of claim 16 where the foot cradle strap is a length of webbing.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of joining the ends of the connection element to the ends of the foot cradle strap comprise: disposing one end of the connection element and one end of the foot cradle strap in a first crimping sleeve; disposing the other end of the connection element and the other end of the foot cradle strap in a second crimping sleeve; reducing the diameter of at least a portion of the first crimping sleeve whereby the two strap ends in the first crimping sleeve are compressed and secured together; reducing the diameter of at least a portion of the second crimping sleeve whereby the strap ends in the second crimping sleeve are compressed and secured together.
 20. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of joining the ends of the connection element to the ends of the foot cradle strap comprise: disposing one end of the connection element and one end of the foot cradle strap in a first crimping sleeve; reducing the diameter of one end portion of the first crimping sleeve while the other end portion of the first crimping sleeve is not reduced, whereby a flare having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the handle is formed at the other end portion of the first crimping sleeve; disposing one end of the connection element and one end of the foot cradle strap in a second crimping sleeve; reducing the diameter of one end portion of the second crimping sleeve while the other end portion of the second crimping sleeve is not reduced, whereby a flare having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the handle is formed at the other end portion of the second crimping sleeve. 